In nearly any other circumstances, the hand pat would have been condescending, but Nancy softened again at the touch. The lack of laughter, now that was a mark on Mab's character, and a good one at that.

"It is..." She watched with mild interest the way the glass frosted itself at her touch. Ice. She'd hazard a guess that the fae in front of her was Unseelie, given their rule over winter. But she didn't press the matter. "Do you think there's anything I can do?"